Electric socket for miniature tubes



Oct. 7,-1952 s. M. DEL CAMP 2,613,244

ELECTRIC SOCKET FOR MINIATURE TUBES Filed Sept. 2, 1948 i 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 FIGJ.

2 INVENTOR.

A 7' TORNE Y.

Sc/P/ONE M DEL CAMP:

Oct. 7, 1952 s. M. DEL. CAMP 2,613,244

ELECTRIC SOCKETFOR MINIATURE TUBES FiledSept. 2, 1948 2$HEETS$HEET2 FIG. 7.

7 4-H is W INVENTOR.

SUP/0N5 M DEL Camp:

2 BYF Q ATTORNE y.

Patented Get. 7, 1952 x "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,613,244 ELECTRIC SOCKET FOR MINIATURE TUBES Scipione M. Del' Camp, Maywood, 111., assignor to Cinch Manufacturing Corporation, Chicago,

The: presentlinvention relates to sockets for vacuum tubes, connector plugs and the like and more particularly to sockets adapted for holding extremely small vacuum tubes.

Within recent years, the art of making elecconnectorv plugs, and the like having means intronic devices using extremely small circuit comtegral with the socket terminal members for ponents has been developed, so that it is now spacing-the socket from the mounting panel. possible to construct. such devices using a numstillanother object of myinvention is to prober of vacuum tubesxof a size that such an elecvidei'an improved socket installation for use with tronic device may be placed in a vest pocket or 10 vacuum tubes, connector plugs, and the like in the fuse nose of a'shell or bomb. I The vacuum which is small and compact and simply manutubes developedfon such electronic devices measfactured and assembled. ure only aboutan inch and a quarter in length Other objects and advantages of my invention and about a quarter of an inch width and thickwill be pointed. out in the following description ness. In order that the wiring Of Such circuits and claims and illustrated in the accompanying may be reduced to a minimum in size, a method drawing. which disclose by Way of example, has been developed of printing, painting or otherthe principles of my invention and the best Wise a esive y app y r u omponents a mode, Which has been contemplated, of applying conducting elements upon aninsulating plate. these principles.

Generally, it'hasJ been necessary to solder the In the drawings: 1. terminals of these small vacuum tubes to these Fig. 1 shows an enlarged portion of a base conducting elements; showing the aperturesxformounting the socket Since the tubes are soldered into' these 'cirof my invention together with the printed circuits, the replacement of defective vacuum tubes Quit d t r l m t requires the unsoldering of the defective tube Fig-,2 showsan enlarged plan view of the and the resold 0f the circuit W t a 118W socket of my invention mounted to a portion of replacement Where the life of h dev thebase and holding a sub-miniature vacuum was necessarily sh0rt, asifor example, those in tube; V the fuses of shellszor bombsyease of replacement Fig; 3 shows anemarged view of t reverse of the vacuum tubes was not important. .Bllt of Fig, 2 showing the terminals of the ocket where the circuits'of h s yp r used n rsolderedto the printed circuit elements of Fig. 1; ing aids, miniature radios, or other electronic de- 1. Fig.4 shows enlarged side elevations of the vices havinga o e u life, the Base of socket .of Fig. 2 with the subminiature vacuum placement of Vacuum tubes becomes extremely tube mounted at opposite ends of the socket; important in reducing maintenance and repair Fig 5 shows anenlarged perspective crosscosts. Co q yy the need for a Suitable sectional view of the socket body showin the socket for these small vacuum tubes'becomes evit t cavity; dent. Furthermo in' uf ctu i Opem- Fig. 6 shows an enlarged-perspective view of tions it is more convenient a y to mamla portion of the base showing the mounting aperfacture acompact electronic circuit device using 40 t and terminal end of 1 t t of my So in P Of, the more frag le Vacuum socket in mechanical contact with a conductor tubes. .2 Y element of the printed circuit;

However, the standard construction ofvacuum Fig.., 7. shows an enlarged end elevation of the tube sockets for. standard sized vacuum tubes Socket; I has been found not to be Particularly a e Fig. 8, shows an enlarged elevation of the opior use vin makin Sma l c e s S b e f positeendvof the socket of Fig.7; hold e extremely Small Vacuum s-J Fig. .9,shows an enlarged side elevation of the Aprincipal objectof my inventionv is o p i socket; together with the-contact prongs and vide an improvedvacuum tube socket .p i u-r I with the cavity and the portion of the contact larly adapted-for use with subminiature vacuum prongs thereon shown in dotted line; tubes in electronic or electrical deviceswh rfi Fig. 10 shows a still further enlarged end elesmall size and compactness of construction-are. vation of the socket; required. 7 J Fig. 11 shows a cross-sectional-view of one of Another object is to provide a socket of the the contacts and a portion of the base taken on above type adaptedfOI use in electronicdevices line ll-H of Fig. 14; V I

where the circuit conducting elements areprinted. Fig. 12 shows an elevation of the opposite end or painted on an insulating panel. p of the socket of Fig. 10;

Afurther objectof my invention is to provide Fig. 13 sho,wsa cross-sectional view taken on a socket for vacuum tubes,- connector plugs, and line l3 -l3 of Fig. 10; the like which is small and compact with amini- Fig. 14 shows a cross-sectional view of the muml of parts andis relatively easy to .manusocket taken on lineM-Hl of Fig. 10 with the factura socket;mounted on a supporting base shown in Another objectvi t r v a socket hs ssc e tiq above type which may be-easily installed and Fjig. 15 show s aperspective viewof the contact mounted in electronic or electrical devices manwhich is used in the socket;

' ufactured or assembled under the so-called printed or painted circuit technique.

A still further object of my invention is to provide/an improved socket .for vacuum tubes,

Fig. 16 shows a greatly enlarged plan view of a sub-miniature vacuum tube suitable for mounting in a socket of my invention; and

Fig. 17 shows a cross-sectional view taken on line i'i-ll of Fig. 14 showing the tube prong in the contact bore and the contact.-

In the preferred embodiment of my invention shown in the drawing, the socket l of my invention is shown mounted on a panel 2. This panel or base 2 may be of ceramic or other insulating materials and may be the panel on which the circuit componentssuch as conductors, induct ances, resistors, and. condensers, are mounted in assembling an electronic circuit device by methods known by those skilled in the art. In the more compact devices certain of these components may be printed, painted, adhesively secured or other wise mounted on the panel. In the drawingthereis shown only the electronic circuit conductorelements 3 which connect to the socket I". These elements may be strips of foil, adhesively secured to the panel or conducting'strips of metal or other material adhesively or otherwise mounted to the panel 2.

In the panel or base 2 are shown five apertures d disposed in two substantially parallel lines for mounting the socket I. The conducting elements 3 are shown mounted on the panel extendingfromand adjacent the apertures 4. One' element is shown on one face of the panel 2' leading: away from one aperture and five are shown on the reverse side, one leading away from each aperture.

The socket l of my invention comprises a socket body 5 of insulating materi'alin which are mount"- ed the contact prongs 6. The socketbody 2 in the" embodiment shown is a substantially rectangular block having five substantially parallel rectangu= lar cross-sectional contact-receiving. bores T extending from one end 8 of the block to the opposite end 9. The number of apertures. however, may be varied to suit. the requirements of the vacuum tube used in the circuit. In these-opposite end faces 8 and 9 of the block are disposed grooves 58 extending substantially parallel toeach other from the ends of the contact-receiving bores 1" and to one face or base l2- of the block 5' and providing ridges ll between the grooves I90.

The contacts 6 for the socket are'made from strips. of conducting material having, a width approximately equal to the width. ofthe contact receiving bore I of the socket. Eachcontact ele ment 6 has an arcuate resilient portion 13 which is disposed in a contact-receiving bore 1 or the.-

socket body 5 with its ends in engagementwith the side of the bore 1 adjacent the base It of the socket body 5 and its center inspring'. engagement with the opposite sideo'f 'theb'o're At one end of the resilient portion is provided a hook portion M which is disposed in the groove:

i9 adjacent the end. At the other end of the arcuate portion l3 there may be disposed an? angular offset I5 providing a portion ofthe-strip for bearing against the side of the bore 1 adjacent the base. Also, at this other end there is disposed a terminal portion l 6 extending along meg-move 50 adjacent that end and beyond the base' li of" the-socket body. Both the hook portion I4" and the terminal portion 16 are parallelly disposed to each other and extend substantially-ncrmalto an imaginary line connecting the ends" of the resilient arcuate portion 131 On the terminal portion [6 are disposed wing portions l-Textending from opposite side edgesthereof'spaced fromthe arcuate portion [3 by an amount substantially equal to the distance from-the 'contaet-receiying 4 bore Tin the socket along the groove to the base 12 of the socket body.

The resilient arcuate portion 13 is disposed in the contact-receiving bore with the hook portion I4 and the terminal portion 18 engaging the grooves l9 between the ridges I l with the terminal portion extending beyond the socket body with the terminal wings I! disposed adjacent the surface of the body. The ridges [I provide means for insulating and separating portions of adjacent contact prongs 6. In the embodiment shown the terminal portions l6 of the contacts 6 are shown disposed at alternate ends of adjacent bores 1. However, such symmetrical displacement is not necessary and the disposition of the terminal ends can be varied in accordance with the technical requirements of the device which the socket is mounted.

The socket I is secured to the base 2 by inserting the terminal portions I6 through the apertures 4 of the base Zuntil the wings I! rest upon-the base 2 thereby spacing the socket I from the base 2. The ends is of the terminal portions may then be" foldedior otherwise bent securely against the base 2 or any'conducting. element 3'on the surface of the base 2 adjacent to the aperture 4 through which the particular end 18- extends. These terminal ends l8 maybe soldered 'to the circuitconducting elements in order to improve connection therewith. The wing. elements I! are caused to be in mechanical contact with the sur-' face of the base and may" be. soldered to any conducting element on that face of the base 2 and disposed adjacent thereto.

Generally the'socketof my invention-is particularly adapted for use with subminiature vacuum tubes 19 015 the type shown in Fig. 16 which" is a greatly enlarged view. These tubes l9 are generallyabout-aninch to an inch and aquarter in length and have their terminal prongs 20' disposed substantially in a plane extending from one end of the'tube. The prongs 20 of the tube l9 may be inserted in' accordance with the circuit and design requirements of the particular device through either end' 8 or. 9 of the socket! with the tube prongs sliding. between the arcuate con-' tact portion and the side of the bore'making an electrical contact therewith and holding the same in'the socket I by'spring tension;

Having now described'and illustrated one form of my invention 1 wish it to be understood that my invention is not to be liniitedto the specificform or arrangement of parts herein described and-shown; except insofar as such limitationsai'e specified-niche appended claims.

I claimz' 1. A-socket for vacuum'tub'es; connector plugs and th'e like comprisingf e; socket body having a plurality of prong-receiving: bores extending from one endto an-opposit'e end and a prong engaging contact mounted" in on'eof said bores; said contact" including a contact portion,v a hook portion, and a terminal portion extending sub stantially normal to said contact portion, said contact portion being arcuate with its ends in engagement withone side of said bore" and it's center-bowed toward a'n opposite side or said 'bor'; said hook portion being disposed at 'onee'n'ddt said contact portion in engagement withbrie end ofsaidbod'y', ahd said terminal portiori being disposed at the opposite endof sai'd contact porti'on in engagement with the opposit'e en'd'- of said body, said terminal portion having a wirig eiztending froma side edge thereof adjacent" said socket with one -side cage" in engagement I and the like comprising a socket body having a plurality of prong-receiving bores extending from one end to an opposite end and grooves at each of said ends extending from said bores to and cutting a common face and prong-engaging con-.

tact mounted in said bores, each ,of said contacts including a contact portion, a hook portion, and

a terminal portion, said contact portion being arcuate in shape with its ends in engagement with the side of said bore adjacent'said grooves and with its center bowed toward an opposite side of said bore, said hook portion being engaged at one end of said contact portion in the groove at the adjacent end of said bore, and said terminal portion being disposed at the opposite end of said contact portion in the groove at the adjacent end of said bore and extending beyond and substantially normal to said common face of said socket body, certain of said contacts being disposed with their terminal portions adjacent one end of said body and the remainder of said contacts being disposed with their terminal portions adjacent the opposite end of said body, and said terminal portions having wings extending from side edges thereof adjacent said socket body and their free ends adapted for extending through apertures in a support and for deformation for engaging a face of the support opposite said socket body, said wings having side edges adapted for engaging a face of the support adjacent the socket body, and said wings and said free ends being adapted for making external connections thereto.

3. A prong-engaging contact for use in a sock-' et body having a contact-receiving bore extending from one end face of said body to the opposite end face, said contact comprising a conducting strip having an arcuate portion with its ends adapted for engaging a side of such a bore and its center adapted for tensioning toward an opposite side of said bore and engaging therewith a contact prong, and having a hook portion disposed at one end of said contact portion for engaging one end face of such a body and a terminal portion at the other end for engaging the opposite end face of said body, said terminal portion being adapted to extend beyond said socket body and having wings extending from the side edges intermediate the ends thereof and having its free end adapted for engagement with an aperture in a support, said wings having opposing side edges for engaging a face of the socket body and a surface of the support.

4. A prong-engaging contact for a socket for vacuum tubes, connector plugs, and the like having a socket body with contact-receiving bores extending from one end face to an opposite end face, said contact comprising: a conducting strip having a resilient arcuate portion, a hook portion disposed at one end of said arcuate portion extending substantially normal to a plane passing through the ends of said arcuate portion in a direction opposite the direction of bowing of said arcuate portion, an angularly ofiset portion at 6 the opposite end of said arcuate portion having a portion disposed in said plane, and a terminal portion extending from said angularly offset portion substantially parallel to and in the same direction as said hook portion, said terminal portion extending a distance substantially greater than said hook portion and including wing portions spaced from said angularly offset portion intermediate the ends of said terminal portion and extending from the side edges of said terminal portion.

5. A vacuum tube socket installation comprising an insulating panel having at least one aperture therein, a conducting element aiiixed to a surface of said panel adjacent said aperture, 2. socket body having a plurality of prong-receiving bores extending through said body from one end face to an opposite end face substantially parallel a side face of said body, a contact member including a resilient prong-engaging portion having an element extending out of the plane thereof and engaging one end face of said body and a terminal portion extending in substantially perpendicular relation to said prong-engaging portion, said termnal portion having an element engaging an opposite end face of said body and combining with said first mentioned body-engaging element to secure said contact member to said body, said terminal portion having laterally extending portions in engagement with said socket body and said panel for spacing said socket body from said panel, the free end of said terminal extending through said aperture of said panel and being electrically engaged with said conducting element.

6. A prong-engaging contact for use in a socket body having a contact-receiving bore extending from one end face of said body to the opposite end face, said contact comprising a conducting strip having a resilient prong-engaging portion, said strip having elements at opposed ends of said prong-engaging portion for engaging said opposed end faces of said body, and said strip having a terminal portion at one end extending in substantially perpendicular relation to said prong-engaging portion, said terminal portion having laterally extending elements providing oppositely facing surfaces for abutting said socket body and a supporting panel whereby said socket body is spaced from said panel.

SCIPIONE M. DEL CAMP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,691,977 Alden Nov. 13, 1928 1,718,993 Wermine July 2, 1929 2,161,487 Schmitt June 6, 1939 2,270,166 I-Iiensch et a1 Jan. 13, 1942 2,275,484 Alden Mar. 10, 1942 2,443,706 Jansen June 22, 1948 2,453,826 Adams Nov. 16, 1948 2,480,059 Stickney Aug. 23, 1949 2,492,236 Mydlil Dec. 27, 1949 2,525,210 Del Camp Oct. 10, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 538,925 Germany Nov. 19, 1931 552,720 England Apr. 21, 1943 785,118 France May 13, 1935 

